No E-Mails After 6pm

Five ways to use the momentum of Passover to break free from electronic slavery.

No e-mails after 6pm!

As Jews around the world celebrated Passover, the holiday of freedom, some French workers rejoiced in their own new-found liberty: the right to disconnect from their smartphones, computers, texts and e-mails each evening.

Noting that employees were effectively working around the clock – due to bosses’ demands that employees be available for communications at all hours – French unions signed binding agreements limiting their members’ e-mail responsibilities. A quarter of a million French high-tech workers can now really leave their offices and be with their families.

As we enter life after Passover, hopefully with a greater sense of freedom, it is an opportune time to examine how free we are from today’s electronic slavery. A recent study found that adults spend half our waking time connected to computers, phones, video games, and other electronics: up to seven hours a day. Children fare even worse: another study found that American children spend more than half their waking life - over seven and a half hours each day - using electronic media.

And it seems that our electronic hobbies – while addictive – don’t make us any happier. Kids who use electronics the most are more likely to have bad grades, more likely to be "often sad or unhappy," less likely to get along well with their parents, and twice as likely to "get into trouble a lot” than less-than-average electronics users.

In one ground-breaking study, Prof. Leslie Perlow of Harvard Business School asked busy consultants at a leading global firm to set aside periods each week when they turned off their phones. This was incredibly hard for the group, who were used to being connected 24/7, but Prof. Perlow meant “off — no smartphone, no computer for business purposes. It’s about not getting emails or texts that you feel compelled to respond to, and instead freeing this time to do whatever you want that is non-work-related” she explained.

Despite their reluctance, the consultants in the study set aside time with no electronics – and soon reported the effects were revolutionary. “Suddenly, employees had time to hit the gym, to go to the movies, to make plans, and spend quality time with friends and spouses — to do anything they wanted without the worry that they were somehow missing something critical.” Productivity even increased when the consultants were well-rested, and the firm soon made periodic electronic turn-offs mandatory.

Here are five ways we can limit our own dependence on media, and use the momentum of Passover to break away from our electronic slavery.

1. “Upgrade” How You Communicate

Studies show that 93% of communication is based on physical proximity: we use clues from people’s body language, facial expressions and tone of voice to understand and connect with others. When we substitute tweets or texts for real contact, we’re only getting 7% of other people’s messages, and we’re isolating ourselves.

Try making an effort to “upgrade” the way you connect with others. Try visiting instead of phoning, or – if that’s impossible – calling instead of communicating only via social media. Choose low-tech over high-tech when you can, and get back in the habit of communicating more fully with others.

2. Set Aside Time to Turn Off

One of the best ways to limit our dependence on electronics is to recreate the Harvard Business School study in our lives, and set specific times to turn off our electronics.

Judaism gives us the perfect opportunity: Shabbat, from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday. Consider going electronic-free during this period. Setting a discreet time when you won’t pick up your phone or fire up your computer can help set limits.

3. Enlist a Friend

One secret to the success of the Harvard study was that it was a team effort: coworkers were able to commiserate, and also were able to cover for each other during electronic “off” times.

Consider finding a friend or family member who also wants to go electronic-free at times, and team up with them.

4. Fill Your Time

When my youngest child was a year old, I published a book. At the time, some friends were perplexed: where did I ever find time to work on it while caring for a newborn? My answer was two-fold: I was energized (for both my book and my baby), but practically, I could point to only one thing -- for a year or more, I cut out virtually all electronics. I didn’t tweet, or watch TV, or e-mail much.

Reading later how many hours we Americans spend plugged in each day, I realized: by severely limiting my electronics use, I was gaining hours of “found” time each day.

Try taking up a hobby or project: it’s much easier to displace our slavery to the screen when we have something exciting and productive to replace it with. Moreover, the more we get used to spending time on other, more productive, pursuits, the easier it is to resist the lure of too much electronics.

5. Boost Your Self-Esteem and Free Will Muscles

The Torah describes man as being created betzelem Elokim, in the image of God. It means we have the ability to use our free will and change our behavior. You can change a habit and break free.

Stand up to the mighty Pharaoh and all his legions, and leave Egypt and its slavery behind. Start seeing yourself as a heir of the brave Israelites. Change is not easy – but anything truly meaningful requires hard work. Take the taste of Passover with you and work on freeing yourself from one of modern society’s greatest enslavements.

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About the Author

Yvette Alt Miller earned her B.A. at Harvard University. She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Jewish Studies at Oxford University, and has a Ph.D. In International Relations from the London School of Economics. She lives with her family in Chicago, and has lectured internationally on Jewish topics. Her book Angels at the table: a Practical Guide to Celebrating Shabbat takes readers through the rituals of Shabbat and more, explaining the full beautiful spectrum of Jewish traditions with warmth and humor. It has been praised as "life-changing", a modern classic, and used in classes and discussion groups around the world.

Visitor Comments: 5

(5)
Simon,
April 25, 2014 9:15 AM

Electronic and bad temper.

looks like electronic slavery fill up part of the human memory thereby living little space to maneuver hence a kind of bloating of the mind that seem to cause impatience and irritability probably due to the excessive information and appetite of the mind for it. Space for other things inclusive study of the word of God and prayer become scarce thereby denying the very things that help with moderation and understanding or capacity regulation.

(4)
Eitan,
April 24, 2014 11:18 PM

Great article

Great article. I thought it was really necessary. Thank you!

(3)
Dan,
April 23, 2014 12:20 PM

The telephone, too

It's also a good idea to disconnect the land-line phone so as not to be disturbed by this relatively new (as far as human evolution is concerned) device, too.

(2)
Lisa,
April 23, 2014 2:46 AM

Electronic slavery?!?!?!

I love to be connected to all my gadgets!! Shabbat & a 2/3 day yontif is when I disconnect!! Di ay nu....that's enough for me!!

(1)
Anonymous,
April 22, 2014 12:54 PM

Great!

This is great! Thank you so much for posting it!

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I just got married and have an important question: Can we eat rice on Passover? My wife grew up eating it, and I did not. Is this just a matter of family tradition?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chametz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chametz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. Chametz is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.

Hence the category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chametz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?

Products of kitniyot often appear like chametz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chametz). Also, chametz grains may become inadvertently mixed together with kitniyot. Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot were prohibited.

In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chametz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chametz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chametz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.

What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot-based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "cholent" stew!) In the United States and elsewhere, mainstream kosher supervision agencies certify it "Kosher for Passover" -- look for the label.

Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where one family could be eating rice on Passover - when their neighbors will not. So am I going to guess here that you are Ashkenazi and your wife is Sefardi. Am I right?

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194-1270), known as Nachmanides, and by the acronym of his name, Ramban. Born in Spain, he was a physician by trade, but was best-known for authoring brilliant commentaries on the Bible, Talmud, and philosophy. In 1263, King James of Spain authorized a disputation (religious debate) between Nachmanides and a Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. Nachmanides reluctantly agreed to take part, only after being assured by the king that he would have full freedom of expression. Nachmanides won the debate, which earned the king's respect and a prize of 300 gold coins. But this incensed the Church: Nachmanides was charged with blasphemy and he was forced to flee Spain. So at age 72, Nachmanides moved to Jerusalem. He was struck by the desolation in the Holy City -- there were so few Jews that he could not even find a minyan to pray. Nachmanides immediately set about rebuilding the Jewish community. The Ramban Synagogue stands today in Jerusalem's Old City, a living testimony to his efforts.

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

It is the nature of a person to be influenced by his fellows and comrades (Rambam, Hil. De'os 6:1).

We can never escape the influence of our environment. Our life-style impacts upon us and, as if by osmosis, penetrates our skin and becomes part of us.

Our environment today is thoroughly computerized. Computer intelligence is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, but an everyday occurrence. Some computers can even carry out complete interviews. The computer asks questions, receives answers, interprets these answers, and uses its newly acquired information to ask new questions.

Still, while computers may be able to think, they cannot feel. The uniqueness of human beings is therefore no longer in their intellect, but in their emotions.

We must be extremely careful not to allow ourselves to become human computers that are devoid of feelings. Our culture is in danger of losing this essential aspect of humanity, remaining only with intellect. Because we communicate so much with unfeeling computers, we are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own feelings and oblivious to the feelings of others.

As we check in at our jobs, and the computer on our desk greets us with, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Today is Wednesday, and here is the agenda for today," let us remember that this machine may indeed be brilliant, but it cannot laugh or cry. It cannot be happy if we succeed, or sad if we fail.

Today I shall...

try to remain a human being in every way - by keeping in touch with my own feelings and being sensitive to the feelings of others.

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